Marine Corps commanders all the way down to the battalion and squadron stage are allowed to authorize troops to put on desert sample uniforms or flame-resistant gear, often known as FROGs, amid an ongoing uniform scarcity within the service, high leaders introduced Thursday.
Gen. Eric Smith, the newly confirmed Marine Corps commandant, and Sgt. Maj. Carlos Ruiz, the service’s high enlisted chief, formally acknowledged the scarcity of woodland camouflage uniforms and introduced the choice to permit flexibility on uniforms in a video message to Marines.
The scarcity of the woodland Marine sample, or MARPAT, uniforms that function the first each day utility apparel for troops throughout the service started plaguing army clothes shops when the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted provide chains around the globe and has but to abate.
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“I can not get cammies,” Smith mentioned within the video posted to Instagram Thursday. “That downside goes to stick with us till the autumn of 2024 when the producer can fill the backlog that has been created after COVID.”
Till that logjam has been resolved, Marines are adapting by authorizing the damage of different uniforms.
“What we can not have is a scenario the place a Marine is sporting unserviceable cammies, as a result of that appears unhealthy for the Corps,” he mentioned. “And we will not have a scenario the place that Marine is given a tough time about these unserviceable cammies.”
The authorization doesn’t imply that particular person Marines can determine to put on a unique uniform if they’re having points with serviceability or discovering a uniform, in line with Maj. John Parry, a spokesperson for Marine Corps Installations Command. That call is as much as the battalion or squadron commander, normally a lieutenant colonel.
“Marines ought to talk with their chain of command if they’re having serviceability points to allow an acceptable authority to decide,” Parry informed Army.com over e mail.
In 2017, American Attire Inc., a producer out of Alabama, was awarded an over $48 million, firm-fixed-price contract for the Marine Corps’ fight utility uniforms for the following 5 years.
”No one even knew the phrase ‘COVID,'” Chuck Lambert, the corporate’s CEO, informed Army Instances final month.
Marines have been having points discovering these uniforms on military-supplied cabinets since a minimum of 2022, Parry informed the publication.
“Sadly, we’re experiencing provide delays on this merchandise,” in line with the My Navy Change web site, which refers to each woodland and desert utility uniforms. “The estimated back-in-stock date is fall 2024. We tremendously apologize for this inconvenience.”
Regardless of hopes that alternative uniforms had been en route earlier this 12 months, the issue has endured. And till the scarcity is rectified subsequent 12 months, leaders are asking the drive for flexibility.
“We’re gonna get this mounted, Marines,” Smith mentioned. “But it surely’s gonna take a bit persistence.”
The senior leaders’ deal with to the drive got here on the heels of a go to to troops within the Indo-Pacific area.
Smith and Ruiz additionally acquired suggestions and questions on tuition help funding, which they inspired Marines to benefit from after they full formal army colleges. Smith additionally famous that no adjustments had been coming to the bodily or fight health exams.
— Drew F. Lawrence may be reached at drew.lawrence@army.com. Comply with him on X @df_lawrence.
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